Mud-slinging mars local Berkeley race

Update 8:20pm: Sophie Hahn read to Berkeleyside from her prepared remarks made to the John George Democratic Club. Here’s what she said:

“I am emphatically opposed to the death penalty. The incumbent did not support a resolution to end the death penalty in Alameda County. I am in favor of equal pay for equal work. The incumbent did not support a resolution in favor of Obama’s Lily Ledbetter Act.”

Hahn said she does not ascribe views to incumbent Laurie Capitelli. “He speaks through his record,” she said.

Original story: The race for Berkeley’s District 5 City Council seat has taken an ugly turn, with supporters of incumbent Laurie Capitelli claiming that challenger Sophie Hahn and her surrogates are engaged in character assassination.

In the last few weeks, Hahn or her supporters have been arguing that Capitelli is not pro-choice, favors the death penalty and opposes equal pay for equal work — because he didn’t take a stand on these issues when they came before the City Council in non-binding votes.

Capitelli unequivocally says he is pro-choice, against the death penalty and supports equal pay.

“As much as I’m a politician, when people are saying really untrue things about your positions, it hurts,” Capitelli said. “But I’ve really tried not to respond.”

Hahn allegedly made the claims at the endorsement meetings of both the John George Democratic Club and the National Women’s Political Caucus, according to several people who attended the meetings. Last night, at the Cal Berkeley Democrats endorsement meeting, Hahn’s surrogate repeated the charges, according to someone who attended. The John George Democratic Club endorsed Hahn, while the NWPC and Cal Democrats made no endorsement in the District 5 race. Hahn’s yard signs also proclaim her as “pro-choice Democrat for City Council”.